Some new releases from Spearhead have crossed our desk and are showing up on store shelves, and considering the quality of the vintage they may not last long. So, make these your go-to wines this spring/summer.

First up is the Spearhead 2017 Gentleman Farmer Vineyard (GFV) Saddle Block Pinot Noir.  Produced from Pinot Noir clones 115, 777 and 828, the same ones that make up the Club Consensus Pinot, the wine is aged for 13 months in French oak (25% new) barrels.  A classic Pinot with its soft plum, cherry and strawberry aromas.  The palate is soft and juicy with a creamy mouthfeel and flavours of red fruits, leather and spice. We pairing this with grilled ribs and chicken and it was delicious. $33 at the winery and only 300 cases produced.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Rose from Spearhead is also sourced from the Gentleman Farmer Vineyard (GFV). Skin contact lasts for 48 hours to extract colour and phenolics (flavour compounds) then fermented dry (5g/l). Deep salmon colour, aromas and flavours of bing cherry, strawberry and rhubarb, crisp, clean and refreshing. This has patio wine writing all over it. Superb with pasta salad, bbq’d salmon, rotisserie chicken or a charcuterie board. $22 at the winery. 500 cases produced. P. S., it is even better next day

A stunning Pinot Gris, the 2018 Spearhead is sourced from the Golden Retreat Vineyard in Summerland. 10% of the pressed juice is fermented in 2 year old French oak with the balance in stainless steel tanks. There is some sur lie aging, which adds weight and fullness to the wine. One of the best we have tried from BC in quite awhile, there is an abundance of orchard and tropical fruit, slight hints of vanilla-oakiness but it was the fullness and richness that won us over. Quite dry with crisp acid, try with BBQ’d salmon, roast chicken, pastas with cream sauces, sauteed prawns. Outstanding price of $20 at the winery. 1500 cases produced.

I must confess I do not understand a white Pinot Noir. However, the 2018 Spearhead White Pinot Noir is quite tasty. Pressed instead of crushed to minimize skin contact, the juice is cold fermented in stainless steel tanks. A bone dry wine (2g/l), the aroma and flavour are much like a Pinot Gris/Chardonnay. Loads of spiced apple, pear, honeydew melon, zesty notes of honey, orange and ginger, and super crisp acidity, try this with bbq’d salmon, pasta with sauteed mushrooms, a crab and avocado salad with lemon dressing. $25 at the winery. 500 cases produced.

We are very fussy about our Chardonnay here having experienced way too many mediocre examples. but the 2018 Spearhead Clone 95 is delicious. This Chardonnay clone is from the renowned Cote d’Or region of Burgundy and produces superb, low-yielding fruit. Fermented bone dry and aged in French oak barrels (40% new) with partial M/L, it shows a stunning complexity of rich, full aromas of pineapple, Fuji apple, and buttery lees with a soft, hedonistic texture of rich tropical fruit, creamy, buttered apple, vanilla and a hint of toast. This is a classic Burgundian Chardonnay that calls out for lobster. Get some before it’s all gone!! Great cellaring potential; 5+ years. $30 at the winery. 550 cases produced and only 50 magnums available.

That is all for now. Still have the Spearhead 2018 Riesling to try (maybe tomorrow with our bbq’d ribs) and the 2018 B.A. Late Harvest Riesling. I hate to try a B.A. Riesling so young as they can age for quite a while but duty calls. BTW, if you do not know what B.A. Riesling is, look it up or wait for the next post.

Also waiting in the wings are tasting notes on the newly released CedarCreek aromatic whites and a selection of wines purchased for our local Costco here in Alberta.

In Vino Veritas